Dmitry Tymchuk, Head of the Center for Military and Political Research, Coordinator of the Information Resistance group, Member of Parliament (People’s Front)
06.13.2016
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

(See end of post for acronym glossary)

Operational data from Information Resistance:

During the past weekend (o6.11-6.12.2016), Russian-terrorist troops continued actively shelling the ATO forces’ positions and civilian objects (the latter included civilian targets on terrorist-controlled territories), using small arms, grenade launchers, anti-aircraft guns, mortars (82 mm and 120 mm), cannon artillery (122 mm), and armored vehicles (BMP-1, BMP-2, BTR-80).

Terrorists remain active along most of the perimeter of the “area of responsibility” of the so-called “Horlivka garrison” – from Holmivskyi to Betmanove (formerly Krasnyi Partyzan). In these areas, the enemy actively deploys heavy weaponry and attempts offensive action with small infantry groups. We observed particularly high activity levels on the section from Holmivskyi to the north and northwest part of “Horlivka garrison’s” sector. Militants have the opportunity to covertly maneuver their firepower, as well as concentrate and deploy troops and equipment, and they are taking advantage of this factor to organize and carry out sudden and powerful raids.

Shrapnel-pierced flag. Photo: @BryceWilson

Thus, in this area, terrorists opened fire from heavy machine guns and two AGS-17’s, firing from the northern and northwestern outskirts of Holmivskyi in the direction of Travneve and the northern side of Zaitseve; then used four “Vasilek” 2B9 automatic mortars from two positions to fire on the northern side of Zaitseve and the eastern and northern sides of Zhovanka. Several mortar strikes were made on the road between Zhovanka and Mayorsk. During night-time, a pair of militant BMP-2’s shelled the ATO forces’ strongholds and observation points south of Mayorsk, firing from the vicinity of the Poselok 6-7 estate. Two terrorist “Gvozdika” 2S1 122 mm self-propelled cannons opened fire from the direction southwest of the Mayorsk car market. Two militant mortar batteries (four 120 mm mortars in each) shelled Mayorsk and Zaitseve.

The situation in the DAP area has sharply deteriorated as well. Militants actively shelled the ATO forces’ positions near Pisky from mortars (82 mm and 120 mm) and SPG-9M. South of Pisky and in the direction of Nevelske, the enemy opened fire from positions in the vicinity of Zhobunky, Volvo Center, Vtoraya Ploshchadka, and positions north of Staromykhailivka.

The situation remains “traditionally” tense in Avdiivka and its environs, including the “industrial zone,” Opytne, and the Tsarska Ohota restaurant – the enemy uses heavy machine guns and stand-mounted grenade launchers (AGS-17 and SPG-9M). In the vicinity of Mar’inka and Krasnohorivka, the enemy deploys militant firing groups with ZU-23-2’s and snipers with large-caliber sniper rifles. In the area of the Svitlodarsk salient, including the ATO forces’ positions near Novozvanivka and Popasna, militants are deploying mortars and grenade launchers.

Enemy sniper groups are active in all of the above areas.

The enemy was also active south of Donetsk. Militant activity has somewhat decreased in the vicinity of Dokuchajevsk, where militants did not use artillery and armored vehicles, yet still deployed mortars and grenade launchers. In the areas of Hranitne, Hnutove, and Talakivka, militants actively used 82 mm mortars and SPG-9M.

Among the movements we observed (most of which are in the course of normal daily life of Russian-terrorist troops), the following ones were notable:

– A militant command point was transferred to the vicinity of Mospyne. The convoy of four command and staff vehicles on Kamaz chassis and two Ural trucks were accompanied by two BTR-80A’s;

– Two railway platform cars arrived in Debaltseve, carrying tended tracked vehicles. According to our preliminary data, those are engineering equipment (counter-obstacle vehicles);

– Militants are expending a lot of effort to reinforce their units in two areas: northeast of Stakhanov (during the past 48 hours, tented trucks have been continuously transporting personnel and ammunition along the Bakhmut highway, towards Zholobok and Donetskyi), and on the stretch between Holmivskyi and Nyzhnje Lozove (equipment and ammunition currently being unloaded in Debaltseve are being transferred here). Units of the Russian Army GRU General Staff were also spotted arriving in the vicinity of Nyzhje Lozove.

Concerning militants’ use of 152 mm artillery in the vicinity of the Yasynuvata junction, which terrorists subsequently reported as “shelling of the Yasynuvata junction by heavy weaponry of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.” It was established the ATO forces’ positions and civilian objects (including those on militant-controlled territory) were shelled by artillery details staffed by Russian military servicemen (cadets in higher military education institutions of the Russian MoD), as part of practical artillery training. At the same time, militants were tasked with using their own and Russian media to provide a “cover-up” of these shellings, combined with an information operation to discredit the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Source: Dmitry Tymchuk FB 

Glossary:

AC – Army Corps
ACV – armored combat vehicle
AGS-17 – automatic grenade launcher
ATO – Anti-Terrorist Operation
BMP – infantry fighting vehicle
BTG – battalion tactical group
BTR, APC – armored personnel carrier
BRDM – armored reconnaissance and surveillance vehicle
BRM – armored reconnaissance vehicle
DAP – Donetsk International Airport
DNR – “Donetsk People’s Republic”
DRG – sabotage and reconnaissance group
ELINT – Electronic Intelligence
GRU – Russian Defense Intelligence, the main military foreign-intelligence service of the Russian Federation
KSM – command and staff vehicle
LNR – “Luhansk People’s Republic”
MGB – Ministry of State Security
MOD – Ministry of Defense
MT-LB – light multipurpose tracked vehicle
MLRS – multiple-launch rocket systems
OMSBR – Independent Motorized Rifle Brigade
SBU – Ukrainian Secret Service
SPG-9 – stand-mounted grenade launcher
TZM, TLV – transporter-loading vehicle
UAV – Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (drones or other)
ZU-23-2 – anti-aircraft artillery system

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